Monocot twisted crawling leaves

Post by **MWP admin** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:39 pm

I came across communities of these plants (shown in the pics) at ta'Giordan Lighthouse (Gozo), in a small patch (1% maybe) which is yet not infested with Bermuda buttercup.

Not that at the centre there is a sub-spherical dark brown structure which I dont know what it is. Looks like to be a flower shoot but on closer look it appeared to be like a bulbil ?!

Maybe Barbary Nut Iris ?

Edwin Lanfranco · Post by **Edwin Lanfranco** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 7:53 pm

That's Colchicum cupanii

jackpot · Post by **jackpot** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:37 am

yes, I agree (Admin: this is the species what you have in culture, together with Arisarum- do you remember the quiz? I asked for the bulbs in the center....and told you that this is characteristic for the Colchicum cupani...)

Post by **MWP admin** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:05 am

Yes, I am quite glad about it becasue I missed the fruiting photos in the profile of the website so I can get them included. I got mislead by the twisted, narrow leaves which are straith and obtuse at the flowering stage.

One question more - are those brown fruit considered as seeds or bulblets?? Hope I find some in Malta! (Dingli cliffs perhaps...)

However the culture plant is not C. cupanii, (no fruit or twisted leaves). It is a Scilla - if lucky Scilla sicula, if not, its just a small (or seed-grown) Scilla uriginea ( = Uriginea maritima).

I have an updated photo in that thread. If you want I can take another recent one (so as we see the progress of the plants)

jackpot · Post by **jackpot** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 4:30 pm

the bulbil-looking tiny things in the centre are no bulbils, they are fruits (capsules) containing the seeds.
Yes Stephen, would be interesting to see your container "Scilla" next year.